Austrian Dragoon Regiment Batthyány of the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763

Austrian Dragoon Regiment Batthyány of the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763.

Dragoner-Regiment Batthyány was raised as a dragoon regiment of five companies in 1631, and increased to an establishment of ten companies by additional recruitment in 1634. During the Seven Years’ War the regiment fought at the Battles of Lobositz, Prag, Breslau, Leuthen, Hochkirch, Torgau, and Freiberg.

Proprietor

  • Oberst, later FM Carl Joseph Fürst Batthyány, 1731–1773

Commanding Officer

  • Oberst Andreas Graf Vitzthum, 1755–1759
  • Oberst Heinrich von Hartenberg, 1759–1767

Uniform

  • dark blue coat with yellow buttons
  • red lapels with seven buttons and buttonholes left and right
  • red cuffs with three buttons
  • red turnbacks
  • dark blue shoulder strap left
  • red aiguillette right
  • black stock
  • dark blue vest with 2 × 7 yellow buttons
  • dark blue or straw breeches
  • black gaiters with yellow buttons for dismounted service
  • white boot cuffs and tall black riding boots for mounted service
  • black tricorne with yellow border, and black cockade with yellow button
  • red saddlecloth with yellow border, and black and white rhombical design
  • black pistol holsters, with red holster covers and border design as above
  • round red mantlesack with border design as above
  • black leather bridle

Campaign History

  • Engagement at Jasena, 1756
  • Engagement at Reichenau, 1756
  • Battle of Lobositz (Grenadier-Kompanie, Hptm. Graf Erdödy), 1756
  • Engagement at Reichenberg (4 Kompanien), 1757
  • Battle of Prag, 1757
  • Battle at Breslau, 1757
  • Battle of Leuthen, 1757
  • Battle of Hochkirch, 1758
  • Siege of Breslau, 1758
  • Attached to the main army, 1759
  • Defence of Dresden, 1760
  • Engagement at Kunzendorf, 1760
  • Battle of Torgau, 1760
  • Picket duty in the Erzgebirge mountains, 1761
  • Engagement at Teplitz, 1762
  • Battle of Freiberg, 1762

Llight straw-coloured leather breeches were worn on campaign. Dragoner-Regiment Batthyany was distinguished from Dragoner-Regiment Liechtenstein by its dark blue vest.

Austrian Dragoons of the Seven Years’ War